When my friends asked if I could come visit on Thanksgiving, my first thought was what to do with my senior dog. Petsitters during the holidays is extremely expensive and difficult to book, his Aunt Betty has a house full of people for her own holiday vacation, and I really don't want to board him in some facility where's he would be miserable and be crated for most of the day. My friends said.. bring him! I was like, really? 

On Monday, Chachi and I will be headed south for the week. Over the years, I've traveled and moved states with dogs, including long distances. There's always the random parts- what to do with your dog when you need to eat and they can't be left in hotel rooms, stopping in rural areas, timing, all the things.. and some dogs just travel better than others. 

This will be our first major travel trip, more than an hour, and I'm semi-nervous about it! He's pretty flexible and as long as he's with me, he likes car rides, but he can get whiny after a bit, so I've been trying to plan the best I can. 

Not only is it the actual travel in a vehicle part, we are also headed to a friend's home. So it will be a different environment, I'll be in and out of the home, and they have two dachshunds themselves. Chachi typically gets along with other dogs well, so I don't think that will be much of a problem, but hope there's no major issues! 

So plans are in place for all the things, knowing that stuff will probably go awry! 

For the trip:

Medications & Documents

• If you feel inclined, check with your vet about ways to alleviate travel anxiety in your pups. Chachi loves car rides, especially looking out the window, but I'm hoping he will not get car sick. Antianxiety and motion sickness meds are available for dogs. I have both, if needed, along with pain medication if his joints hurt too much. 

• Sometimes dogs can also take Benadryl and Dramamine, but it's recommended to consult your vet for the proper dosage if so. If your pet has been a part of the family for a while, you probably already know the right dosage because you have had experiences. 

• Daily Meds-be sure to have enough before you begin your trip! 

• Be sure to have your rabies tag numbers, microchip numbers, and any other pertinent health information with you. Your vet's office might be closed during the holidays, and you never know when your pet will have an emergency! I have a piece of mind that Chachi has a microchip in him to help with identification, but he also has an identification tag with my phone number on it as well. 

• Plan your travel. Checking out the best places to stop with your pets is a plus. Love's Gas Stations often have dog parks available, and of course rest areas offer dog relief areas as well.  For me, after years of traveling up and down I95, I know where the rest areas are, and most gas stations that I already prefer stopping. I can probably safely get to into Georgia before we need to stop for our first break, which is about 4 hours. By then my legs will want a break anyway! C

• One of the questions humans might have is "Can I leave my pet in the car while I need to go into a restroom and/ or eat?" This is a difficult question because so many people are sensitive to pets in cars, especially in the warmer climates.  My way of dealing with this is often to limit my stops. I do not stop to eat a restaurant meal. I try to take snacks, pop in/ out as quickly as I can, and park where I have the most visibility to my car so I can see what's going on. Of course, in busy places, that's not always possible. 

• Most vehicles are now equipped with remote start, so parking the car, locking it, and starting the engine with AC on is always a possibility. Leaving windows down, if it's not too hot, is another possibility.